Cobourg father pleads guilty to mischief

Judge grants Chris Littlechild an absolute discharge

Gavel

Chris Littlechild was charged after a car full of youth pushed him to a breaking point by repeatedly harassing his family late at night week after week.

On March 11, Mr. Littlechild chased down a suspected car he believed was responsible for the ongoing harassment. He smashed a mirror with a baseball bat after the occupants refused to go to the police station.

Mr. Littlechild was then arrested and charged.

On Aug. 12, Mr. Littlechild appeared before provincial court and pled guilty to mischief under $5,000 and was granted an absolute discharge.

“That means the judge accepts his acknowledgement and guilt and finds him guilty, but places no conditions on him or any punishment of any sort,” Mr. Littlechild’s lawyer Alan Richter said.

Mr. Littlechild could not be reached for comment by press deadline.

“He accepted responsibility on the damage to the car,” Mr. Richter said.

The damage was less than $900, Mr. Richter explained, and his client will be making a $500 donation to the local food bank.

At this point, the lawyer explained that his client is just happy the process is now over, but admitted it’s unusual for a guilty plea to be followed by an absolute discharge.

“Absolute discharges are very rare,” he said. “Most discharges would be what’s called a conditional discharge, which would have as a condition a period of probation you’d have to successfully complete.”

The Crown sought to have a condition added to Mr. Littlechild’s discharge, where Mr. Littlechild wouldn’t be allowed to communicate or go near the complainants or their families.

“The judge found that was unnecessary,” Mr. Richter said. “Mr. Littlechild is not likely to ever be back in front of the courts.”

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(1) Comment

By Sheri|AUGUST 14, 2014 10:37 AM

SO glad to see that NOTHING has changed in Cobourg. I can understand this fathers frustration. My family went through a year of this nonsense with little to no help from the police or courts. We had our home spray painted, rocks thrown through windows, garbage thrown from the neighbour's home and it goes on and on. I hope, for his sake, that these kids end up doing something that finally puts them in the spotlight as the little terrors they really are. Glad I have moved far, far away.